Fruit In The Airport

I went into the Atlanta International Airport to go on vacation and saw a vending machine. These aren't too rare in airports (or anywhere for that matter though I will say in Japan they are MUCH more prevalent and offer a wider selection of drinks and snacks. They have the vending machine world cornered) but this one, ah, this one was very different indeed.

It had iPods in it.

This goes along with the Sky Mall ridiculously priced impulse buy stuff BUT this is a bit smarter in that you get it right away. Given the same scenario, you're on your way to a family get-together but oh shucks! No present. $150.00 in a machine and you have a desirable present and you'll be thanked a ton (probably). Makes sense though I still want to know how often this happens.

At first I thought oh wow, how cool. It's kind of like those fruit vending machines you see in cafeterias only this one dispenses a different kind of apple.

But then I thought of the problems.

Let me give you the run down here about a new iPod and let's say you just bought one out of the vending machine for yourself, not as a present:

It's not like there's music on it waiting for you to plug in the headphones and listen to. You need to put your own music on it. Before you do that though, you need to install iTunes into your computer.

What, you didn't bring your computer with you? Sorry buddy, your ride ends here.

But let's say you DID bring your computer with you and the airport you are located in has free internet access. You pop online and download iTunes and then take your MP3 collection, which hopefully you have already saved on your computer and you don't have to worry about importing CD after CD. You import all your songs and then plug your iPod in to sync it up.

Ah, but what about the BATTERY? As far as I know, iPods come next to dead and in need of a charge. A quick charge takes approximately 45 minutes and charges something like 75% of the battery (I'm pretty sure).

Maybe as you're downloading and importing iTunes and your music you iPod can be charging.

And then maybe the importing process will take a while and you'll need to do it on the next flight.

The whole thing is riddled with obstacles, obstacles you just wouldn't have at home. So hopefully if you are in an airport buying an iPod it's as a present OR you come prepared with iTunes already installed along with your music (I know I ran iTunes well before I got my first iPod) ready to go and the only thing stopping you is a battery charge.

If that's the case I hope you have a lengthy layover.